Mardi Himal Trek: Weather, Cost, Route

The Mardi Himal is a newly opened route in the Annapurna region and is also known as the hidden treasure trek too. The Mardi Himal Trekking is short and easy with well-managed camping and tea house trek offering a beautiful view of the Annapurna area.
Mardi Himal is the least visited trekking peak, and this trek is the best destination to avoid the crowd.

Mardi Himal Trekking
Mardi Himal Trekking

Though the availability of food and accommodation on the route is minimum, Mardi Himal Trekking is still an enjoyable trekking route that requires minimum effort.
Mardi Himal Trek is about a week-long in the Himalayas with stunning views of snowy peaks through small Nepali Villages. It is an interesting trek compared to other popular treks in the Annapurna region.
Mardi Himal is located to the east of the Annapurna Base Camp. It offers a spectacular view of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchre (Fishtail) and Manaslu Himalayas ranges.
Also, its natural beauty allows you to view the Nepal national bird-Pheasant, national flowers- Rhododendron, Musk deer, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Thar, and many more wild animals and several plants which are used to make medicine.

Mardi Himal Trekking

Mardi Himal is 4,500 meters above sea level. The Mardi Himal Trekking trail starts from Kathmandu to the beautiful city Pokhara. Traveling from Kathmandu to Pokhara has two options, either a flight which takes only half an hour or a drive for about 6-7 hours drive.
Drive from Pokhara to Phedi (1600 m) drive 30 minutes. Walking along the trail, you will go slowly up and then trek from Pothana to Deurali (2100 m) take 4-5 hours.
Also, you can start your journey to Mardi Himal from Kande after 1 Hour of driving from Pokhara Balung Highway. The first walk is easy, and you will have to walk for about 1 and a half hours to the ridge (2060 m), then slowly walk towards Australian Camp.
The place is full of amazing views of the Annapurna range and Pokhara valley. Then the trek continues from Australian Camp to Pothana and then again up to Deurali.
From Deurali, the trek continues to Forest Camp (2900 m)-walk for 6-7 hours. Then you will pass through the Rhododendron forest, which makes the whole forest more beautiful with a gradual uphill. There is no tea house along the way, so you must carry lunch and water yourselves.
The trail gradually extends up to the Low Camp almost 3000 meters which takes 5-6 hours. There is a couple of tea houses where trekkers can take a rest and enjoy the scenario of Mt. Fishtail.

View of Machapuchre from low camp
View of Machhapuchhre from low camp

The Low Camp provides you with the best view of Machhapuchhre anywhere in Nepal along with accommodation for the sunrise and sunset views.
The further walk to Badal Danda (Cloud Hill) almost 1 hour above the tree line and trek to high camp from there you will see better view than before.
Now, you need a short walk to High Camp, 6-7 hours continuously, and then you will see the snow-capped peak of Annapurna South, Huinchuli, and Fishtails that are closer to Snowcapped.
After a steep climb and a longer walk, you will finally reach to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4500 m) from where you can view Mardi Himal.
After exploring the Mardi Himal Base Camp, the returning trail is different; you will go through Siding village through the pine and Rhododendron Forest.
Then trek to Ghalel to Lwang to Khoramukh and back to Pokhara. Take a flight or drive heading back from Pokhara to Kathmandu.

Mardi Himal Trek Route

SN Route Time Duration(walk and drive) Highest Altitude
1 Pokhara to Phedi 1-hour drive 1650 m
2 trek to Deurali 4-5 hours 2100 m
3 Duerali to Forest Champ 6-7 hours 2900 m
4 Forest to Low Camp 5-6 hours 3050 m
5 Low Camp to High Camp 6-7 hours 3500 m
6 High Camp to Base Camp  6-7 Hours 4500 m
7 High Camp to Sidhing 5-6 hours 1,700 m
8 Sidhing to Lwang 5-6 hours 1460 m
9 Lwang to Pokhara 1-2 hours, 2.30 hrs drive 827 m

Mardi Himal Trek Cost

The trek cost is USD 20 including a 13% Vat that is paid to an Annapurna Conservation Area Project, and Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS). The individual trekkers must pay USD 20 for TIMS, and the trekkers who travel via Trekking Companies costs USD 10 only (if you are with a group).
For those who can’t afford the expensive tours, the package tours are also available. The package tours depend on the days. Following package tours such as six days, 5-7 days, and 10-12 days can be booked online. The charge of the guide is also included.

Mardi Himal Weather

The best season to go to Mardi Himal is Autumn and Spring for trekking and Mountaineering the weather is clear, and the temperature is moderate from September to November.

Mardi Himal
Mardi Himal

Thus, you can see a clear and beautiful view without any hindrance. March to May which is the season of flowers, plants, and animals walking also can be seen. At the end of the dry season and the best time for trekking.
Summer and Winter are the risky seasons to visit. June to August is the month of heavy rainfall. December to February is the coolest weather, at that time temperature fall to zero degrees or even below.
Mardi Himal Trekking Difficulties
Trekking to Mardi Himal is not that difficult. You don’t need ropes, and ice picks because there is no vertical climbing. But if it rains, it will be difficult to trek as the way becomes quite steep and slippery.
The only difficult section is the last non-stop six hours hike from High Camp to Base Camp because of the steep and rocky path. People of different ages from all around the world can easily experience the glory od trekking and Climb the Mardi Himal.

Things you need

You must know some important things before going for a trek. Firstly, you must take the permits from Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) and Tourism Information Management System (TIMS) with the help of agents or through the official Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Then the duration of trekking depends upon you. According to the duration of the trek, you need to arrange your luggage containing warm clothes, Down jacket, Trousers, Long sleeve T-shirt, a pair of hiking boots, Shorts, Socks, Rubber sandals, water bottles, Sunglasses, walking steak, Headlight, Sleeping bag, warm winter hat, etc. And the most important thing is a map.

Restaurant on the way to Mardi Himal
Restaurant on the way to Mardi Himal

The restaurants and café are available from one stop to another stop with different cuisine, so you don’t have to worry about food. While you are traveling to Mardi Himal, the one thing you should care about is to carry food.

Facts about Mardi Himal

  1. Mardi Himal Base Camp is at 4500 meters and marks the highest point of the Mardi Himal Trek.
  2. The highest sleeping point on Mardi Himal Trek is at High Camp.
  3. Mardi Himal Trek is popular in Annapurna Range where you can see amazing views of Machhapuchre (also known as Fishtail, 6,993 m), Annapurna South (7,010 m), and Mount Hiunchuli (3,441 m).
  4. Mardi Himal Trek route has been popular over the past five years, and Tea house (guest house) has been established there for visitors.

Mardi Himal Map

Mardi Himal map

About Lukla, Nepal: Weather, Hotels, Airport

Lukla is located in the Khumbu area of the Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha-Zone of north-east Nepal. Lukla, Nepal is famous for the most dangerous airport in the world and also popular for mountaineering, trekking and visiting for the amazing scenario of the Himalayas.

It is also the most visited trekking route to Everest Base Camp and Gokyo valley trek.

Lukla is also known for the Sherpa Village. Their lifestyle is typically different from others parts of Nepal.

Lukla

Kathmandu to Lukla

Lukla is 2860 meters above sea level. Lukla is situated at the longitude of 86.719055 and latitude of 27.674295. The total distance between Kathmandu and Lukla is 140 km and 3.61 meters. The miles based measurement distance is 87 miles.

Travelers can travel by bus, mini-van and even by plane. Travel duration from Kathmandu to Lukla is around 2.8 hours if the travel speed is 50 km per hour. If you travel from the airplane, then it takes only 25-30 minutes from Kathmandu to Lukla.

There are numerous flights from Kathmandu to Lukla including Nepal Airlines, Sita Air, Simrik Airlines, Tara Airlines and Summit Airlines where you can book your tickets.

Lukla Weather

The weather of Lukla is highly unpredictable because it can change suddenly in a minute. Lukla has extremely cold weather. During the summer season, the climate is very wet due to high rain.

Winter is cold and dry, and the temperature here is much lower than others parts of Nepal.

Lukla

The weather of Lukla is never the same. The coolest month is January and the warmest month is May; December is the driest month of the year.

April, May, June, July, August and September months lies in the summer season. June, July, August, and September are the months of rainfall. The highest rainfall (i.e., above 600 mm) of the years fall in July.

The average annual minimum temperature is 51.8-degree Fahrenheit, and the maximum temperature is 77-degree Fahrenheit. The snowfall is almost 150 cm thick layer in the Lukla.

Autumn and Spring are the best seasons to visit Lukla. The weather during these two seasons is not too high not too low temperature. In rainy season and winter season, it’s better not to trek as the climate is coolest and wet.

You can never be sure about the weather so be prepared if you are traveling to Lukla. Before going to Lukla, the basic things to take with you are warm clothes like the Windproof jacket, gloves, sleeping bags, trekking shoes and also the medicine according to the changing climate.

Drink a lot of water to hydrate yourself which prevent sickness.

Lukla Airport

Lukla Airport, often known as Tenzing-Hillary Airport, is one of the most dangerous airports in the world which is situated on the hills side.

Lukla Airport on the way to Everest base Camp

The runway of the airport has short takeoff and landing. After arriving at the airport, the only way to get around the Lukla is by foot because there are no good roads, and no other means of transportation are available.

During the bad weather, sometimes the flight may be delayed, and you may have to wait for a week due to the fog and rainfall or high wind.

Facts about Lukla

Kathmandu to Lukla: View during the Flight

  1. Every morning 1 hour Mountain Flight is scheduled from Kathmandu so that people can view the Mt. Everest during the flight.
  1. Lukla town is full of ups, and downs hills and the yaks serve as wheel here.
  2. Most of the Sherpa live here and turn their homes into the lodge.
  3. The helicopter is available if there is an emergency.
  4. Tongba is a local drink of Nepal. It is really good to drink in cold weather which is made from millet after cooking and
  5. Sherpa’Cuisine is the most popular food that you must try while you are traveling to Lukla.
  6. Day hiking around Lukla village and trek to Phakding or to go to Everest Base Camp start from Lukla.

Hotels and Lodges in Lukla, Nepal

Lukla is a strip of hotels which provides easy accessibility to the Everest region. There are many shops in Lukla. There are many pubs, café, restaurant, hotels, and lodges.

There are two types of hotels, the high quality which offers luxuries and another is simple and cheap. Some of the hotels are Lama Hotel, Yeti Mountain Home, Khumbu Lodge and Resturant, Paradise Lodge and restaurant and many others.

Lama Hotel

It is the best and old hotel located in Chaurikharka, Lukla. Lama Hotel is a minute walk from the Lukla Aiport. Guest may also find many shops, groceries, art, Buddhist park, rock climbing, and Lukla school.

Lama Hotel at Lukla

Featuring free wifi and a terrace; other activities like; hiking, evening entertainment and so on. Each Unit is fitted with a private bathroom. It provides free airport shuttle services.

Other facilities are Atm on-site, currency exchange, 24-hour service, music for kids, books and airport pick-up and drop-off.

Yeti Mountain Home

The hotel is situated at the gateway to the Khumbu. Yeti Mountain Home provides the perfect beginning and end to your trekking holiday.

A warm, cozy rooms and bathrooms with hot and cold running water. Free wifi and 24 hours service available. They have an Electric mat to keep your bed warm.

The hotels in Lukla, Nepal serve delicious cuisine. The facility of credit card payment and also have Small In-house library.

La Villa Sherpani

La Villa Sherpani is located in Phakding. It offers clean and simple rooms with the private bathroom and a TV with satellite channels. It also includes a sun terrace and balcony with mountain views.

La Villa Sherpani at Lukla

Panorama Lodge and Resturant

Panorama Lodge and Resturant is in Namche Bazaar which is 13 km away from Lukla. Free parking and wifi are available.

The room with a comfortable bed, warm shower, and amazing mountain views. Other facilities are hiking, room service, manage your bookings online, and the price is unbeatable.

Hotel Khangri

Hotel Khangri offers accommodation in Namche. The hotel is one of the best-rated hotels in Namche.

Clean and comfortable rooms with en-suite bathrooms, Atm on-site, ticket service, currency exchange, daily housekeeping and friendly environment. Guest can enjoy a drink at the on-site bar and also has grocery deliveries.

Sightseeing in Lukha, Nepal

Lukla is especially famous for trekking, and there are many things to do and places to see. Many foreigners from all around the world visit Lukla.

It requires Trekking and hiking to reach different places. Khumbu Discovery trips including Day hikes and Everest sightseeing flights from Lukla.

It is the most popular trekking area of Lukla, Nepal; Namche Bazaar, Everest Base Camp, Gokyo Valley Trekking and Everest comfort Trek. Trekking from Lukla to Namche Bazaar takes two days. Namche Bazaar is a small and beautiful town.

Namche Bazaar is full of various shops and lodges where you can buy handmade things. Apart from tourists and locals, you can also see yaks, guide, and porters.

Namche bazaar

The next most popular places are trekking from Lukla to Everest Base Camp. Before going there, trekkers have to take training, exercise, and knowledge of health and other accommodations.

Also never miss to see these places in Lukla:

  1. Lukla Airport
  2. Lukla School
  3. Lukla Hospital
  4. Keegan Gompa(Monastery)
  5. Pasang Lhamu Memorial Gate

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